Dirt eliminator for potato sorting machines



March 27, 1951 B. c. BALDWIN 2,546,713

DIRT ELIMINATOR FOR POTATO SORTING MACHINES Filed July 20, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet l Burr ,6. Baldwin INVENTOR.

March 27, 1951 a. c. BALDWIN DIRT ELIMINATOR FOR POTATO SORTING MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 20, 1948 m M o A .m E V m m W3 Q a m mm B a. Z n w n n W y wwl" cw B B uuu ||L ww vm Q 7 M wn km .u h Fm 05 Q Q $1 3 vv N\ VN Q E M t March 27, 1951 B. c. BALDWIN 2,546,713

DIRT ELIMINATOR FOR POTATO SORTING MACHINES Filed July 20, 1948 3 SheetsSheet 3 Burr 6. Baldwin 22 INVENTOR.

, B Y mm 3 W Patented Mar. 27, 1 951 DIRT ELIMINATOR FOR POTATO SORTING MACHINES Burr 0. Baldwin, Twin Falls, Idaho Application July 20, 1948, Serial No. 39,713

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a new and improved potato sorting machine and has for its primary object the provision of means whereby potatoes may be simultaneously screened and sorted so that dirt, stones, and rocks may be effectively eliminated in the process.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine whereby potatoes of assorted sizes may be conveyed continuously to a sorting table in a more or less clean condition, the associated dirt and debris having been continuously removed in the interim,

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a novel means for delivering ungraded potatoes to a sorting table whereby only relativel clean potatoes will be subsequently sorted while dirt, debris, and even rocks will be effectively and continuously discharged without injury to the moving parts of the sorting machine or to the potatoes themselves.

A further object of this invention is to provide in a machine of the class described, apparatus of a simple, practical and efficient nature for effectively sorting, grading, and cleaning a variety of articles of different size.

These, together with various ancillary objects and features of the invention which will later become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by the device, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated by way of example only in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the device of the instant invention in operative association with an elevator and sorting table;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 2-2 of Figure 3;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device taken substantially on the plane of section line 33 of Figure 5;

Figure 4 is a side elevational View of the device drawings and in the following specification simi lar reference characters indicate corresponding elements throughout.

Generally indicated at H! is a frame upon which is rotatably mounted an endless inclined elevator chain l2 for transporting potatoes M of varying sizes to a sorting table IS. The sorting table consists of a conventional conveyor l8 rotatable on sprockets 2E! suitably supported on vertical standards 22.

interposed between the elevator and the sorting table is the dirt eliminating device of the instant invention to be fully described hereinafter. A bin 24 disposed beneath the discharge end of the elevator is provided which i suitably secured to vertical frame members 26, preferably four in number. A pair of transverse shafts 28 and 3!] are rotatably secured to the frame members 25. The shaft 28 is provided with a sprocket 32 over which is entrained an endless web or chain 3 3 whichis engaged upon another sprocket 36 associated with the elevator conveyor [2. Thus shaft 28 is'driven by the elevator.

Secured to shaft 28 is a substantially squared roller 35 while to the shaft 3:! is secured a cylindrical roller 31.

Between longitudinal frame members 49 and supported on the rollers 36 and 37 is an endless foraminous member or screen t2 formed and configurated in any desired manner but preferably as shown in Figure 6.

Positioned beneath the undersurface of the top side of the screen 42 and xtending transversely thereof is an agitator which consists of a shaft 44 one end of which carries a sprocket 55 over which is entrained an endless chain 58 which engages another sprocket on the shaft 28 as shown in Figure 1. Thus the agitator is driven by the dirt eliminating conveyor. The agitator consists of a pair of spaced parallel rods 50 which are interconnected by vertical plates 52. Thus as the screen rotates on the shafts 28 and 30, the agitator is actuated to rotate whereby the rods 5%! alternatel abut and lift the screen a short distance to shake dirt and debris from potatoes traveling thereon as shown in Figure 3. The dirt and debris falling through the screen are deposited upon a shelf 5 to be discharged therefrom. However, small potatoes ma also fall through the top side of the screen and repose on the bottom side thereof. To divide the potatoes from the dirt and subsequently discharge them on the sorting table the following means is provided.

A pair of spaced vertical lugs 56 are provided adjacent the discharge end of the screen to Which debris passing below the bottom edge of the plate.

The V-plate is adjustably and resiliently mounted so that a rock or hard object when striking the plate will cause it to tilt upwardly and allow the object to pass therebeneath. Terminally secured to the free ends of the arms 69 and the lugs 56 are a pair of angularly inclined springs 62. To adjust the height of the plate 60 above the screen 52, a pair of vertical lugs 64 are provided upon the arms 59 which have internally threaded apertures to receive set screws 66 which abut the vertical lugs 56.

In practical operation, potatoes of varying sizes are lifted by the elevator to be discharged through the bin 24 onto the revolving screen 42 which is being driven by the elevator. Small potatoes, dirt and debris fall through the screen, the dirt eventually falling on the shelf 54 while the small potatoes, rocks, and other debris are moved to the right on Figure 3. The potatoes strike the sides of the V-plate, thus being pushed onto the sorting table below. The rocks and debris pass beneath the V-plate to be discharged onto the shelf at therebelow.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the de vice will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes full comprehended by the spirit of the invenion as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. Li a potato sorting machine including an elevator and a sorting table; a dirt eliminator interposed between said elevator and said sorting table comprising a frame a conveyor mounted on said frame, an endless foraminous member movable with said conveyor for advancing potatoes received thereon from the elevator, a shelf beneath the lower flight of said foraminous member and above said sorting table, means driven by said conveyor for agitating said foraminous member to loosen dirt and small potatoes therefrom and urge them through the upper flight of said foraminous member, adjustable means resiliently mounted to said frame adjacen the discharge end of said conveyor for dischargfigg small potatoes onto said sorting table, and mans below said conveyor for receiving and discharging dirt, said potato discharge means including a substantially V-shaped plate disposed transversely of said conveyor between the upper and lower flights of saidforaminous member and immediately adjacent said lower flight.

2. The combination of claim 1 and a pair of longitudinally extending arms secured to the nds of said plate, means for pivoting said arms to said frame intermediate their ends, angulated springs terminally secured to said frame and to the free ends of said arms for resiliently main taining said plate a given distance above the lower flight of said foraminous member, and means carried by said arms for adjusting the tension on said springs whereby said plate is pivoted to any desired position above the lower flight of said foraminous member.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said spring adjusting means includes vertical lugs on said arms having internall threaded apertures and a set screw engaging set apertures and abutting said frame.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said first mentioned means includes an agitator having a pair of spaced interconnected rods transversely positioned below the upper flight of said foraminous member, said rods alternately abutting and lifting the upper flight of said foraminous member as the agitator is rotated.

- l BURR C. BALDWIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 853,459 Isbell May 14, 1907 1,289,577 Tollefson Dec. 31, 1918 1,275,099 Steele Aug. 8, 1913 1,580,683 Sang Apr.'13, 1926 1,650,441 Glaize Nov. 22, 1927 2,376,128 Dauenhauer May 15, 1945 

